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Dunkin accused of buying votes

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Serious allegations of voter fraud surfaced Sunday within a high-stakes Illinois House campaign, catching the attention of Cook County prosecutors.

Secretary of State Jesse White and Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) appeared at a South Side press conference to accuse Rep. Ken Dunkin of buying early votes in the battle to keep his 5th District seat in the state House of Representatives. Dunkin’s opponent, Juliana Stratton, also stood nearby as Dowell shared what she claimed is video evidence of Dunkin’s alleged scheme — purportedly shot by people who infiltrated the vote-buying operation and cast ballots in exchange for “crisp $50 bills.”

“This is a violation of all laws of human decency, and shame on Mr. Dunkin and his organization for doing this,” White said. […]

Campaign workers noticed a larger-than-normal early voter turnout Saturday at the Chicago Bee Branch library, Dowell said. So four unnamed volunteers decided to go undercover. Dowell claims voters were being vetted at Dunkin’s campaign headquarters in the 2900 block of South Wabash, told to vote for Dunkin, taken to the library and returned to Dunkin’s campaign office to collect $50 or $100.

The four people who went undercover cast ballots, collected money and have since spoken to Chicago Police, Dowell said.

* I was in Chicago over the weekend for a Saturday morning speech, so I was able to attend the Sunday presser. Here’s part of Ald. Dowell’s statement…

* DNAInfo Chicago…

In another video, a woman wearing a red jacket standing outside the Dunkin office at 2907 S. Wabash Street is seen speaking with a man wearing a hidden camera.

“Thirty-seventh and State, that library, that’s where everybody at,” she says, likely referring to the Chicago Bee Library, 3647 S. State St. “And when they get through right there, they get their sheets in [inaudible] they voted, they come back here, and everybody just gotta make sure they punch 121.”

The video man asks, “I gotta go down there and then come back here?”

She responds, “How you gonna get your money?”

Then another man in the background asks, “How much money?” and she responds, “Fifty dollars apiece.”

The video man asks one more time, “I gotta come back down here to get paid?”

And she says, “Yeah ’cause that’s the only way we gonna know you did it.”

* Watch the video, but be aware of some bad language…

* Another video clip. “Here for the hundred”…

* And here’s surveillance video from inside the campaign office…

* ABC 7 has Dunkin’s personal response…

“It is another example of them being in a desperate mode and not talking about the issues,” Dunkin said. […]

Dunkin said state House Speaker Mike Madigan is behind the effort to smear his campaign. Dunkin, who has received big campaign contributions from Republicans, has voted against Madigan on several issues, denying him a veto-proof majority that would break the partisan stalemate in Springfield.

“Mike Madigan will tell elected officials to do whatever he thinks he can to derail an independent voice for a man standing up in his district,” Dunkin said.

* Related…

* Rauner-Madigan war fuels Illinois campaign spending binge

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:52 am

Comments

Convicted? Never convicted.

Comment by bwana63 Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:55 am
Just wow. I thought politics couldn’t make me anymore cynical.

Comment by Hard-working Art Student Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:56 am
Ken Dunkin better hope getting smoked by the sitting President is his worst run-in with the G to come out of this campaign … but I wouldn’t put a “crisp 50″ on it.

Comment by Reality Check Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:56 am
If you’re a republican in the General Assembly, you have to be at least a little irritated that Rauner has given Dunkin close to $800K for a few votes. House GOP members have taken at least 100 bad votes and they’ve only gotten $5-8K.

Comment by gotcha Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:57 am
Wait, wait…so The Bruce can buy Dunkin’s vote, but Dunkin can’t buy votes? Doesn’t seem fair. /s

Comment by MSIX Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 9:59 am
Wow, this hardly ever happens in Chicago politics

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:00 am
“What? What? Ugh! We told Ken, specifically, gift cards, give $25 gift cards!” - Fake Unnamed Superstar.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:01 am
Who is tasked with investigating voter fraud? Is it States Attorney Anita Alvarez or Attorney General Madigan? Either way, it would be interesting to see them going after Ken.

Comment by G Unit Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:01 am
Dunkin didn’t deny, he didn’t call for an investigation, he just blamed Madigan. Lame.

Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:01 am
Ahhhh, now we know why campaigns write checks to banks for cash. /s

Comment by cdog Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:04 am
Democrats, ALL Democrats, will be remiss if they don’t mention Rauner’s monetary support for Dunkin every single opportunity they have to do so.

Comment by Cubs in '16 Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:07 am
===Wow, this hardly ever happens in Chicago politics ===

lol

I’ve been doing writing about this business for a very long time and this is the most blatant example of alleged vote buying I’ve ever seen.

But, of course, you know better.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:08 am
It will be interesting if Ken tries to cut a plea bargain by singing like a canary to the justice department regarding his participation in the turn around agenda… about it being bought and paid for… One can only hope… As I always do!

Comment by Triple fat Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:08 am
Dunkin is blaming Madigan, LOL. Desperation is trying to buy votes. Dunkin is finished.

Comment by The Dude Abides Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:09 am
===If you’re a republican in the General Assembly, you have to be at least a little irritated that Rauner has given Dunkin close to $800K for a few votes.===

1) Rauner is a Raunerite, and if you’re a GOP GA member you have no say how the Raunerites go about their business.

2) Dunkin’s sole vote is worth 47 GOP votes. That’s real. It’s just that true. Without Dunkin, Madigan would “finally” have that 71, and no number of currently held hostage GOP members have that juice.

Now, if I were a GOP GA member, bring at level par with Ken Dunkin in Raunerite thinking, that would make me angry and sad.

“We’re with Ken!” - Rauner-owned GOP GA(?)

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:09 am
I wrote to Rep. Dunkin about the misuse and waste of hundreds of thousands of dollars at a state agency last year and he never bothered to reply or ask any questions. Little did I know what a waste of time it was at the time.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:09 am
In fairness it is probably more efficient to literally buy votes than to go on broadcast…

Comment by Will Caskey Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:11 am
Any arrest on the gun/truck vandalism? I didn’t see anything over the weekend.

Quite a few days for Dunk.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:24 am
Maybe it won’t matter, but how is Rauner going to decry the corruption in this state when he ties himself to this guy. Or does he assume people won’t look past the ‘D’ to where his support is coming from?

Comment by ChicagoVinny Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:24 am
===Any arrest on the gun/truck vandalism?===

Subscribe.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:24 am
Would be interested in whether the lawyers on this blog think the videos are admissible evidence in a criminal trial.

Could the House vote to expel? There must be many who want to do so. Particularly if Dunkin loses the primary, they could switch the seat early.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:37 am
Nobody should be surprised. This matter needs to be investigated with a sense of urgency. The integrity of the election system is at stake. It may be difficult to legally prove Mr. Dunkin has or had knowledge of the payoffs although I suspect he was involved.

Comment by kitty Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:38 am
And as long as those videotaping were not acting as agents of the government, the videos are admissible.

Comment by Menard guy Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:43 am
Weren’t there a bunch of gift cards distributed in the 2014 gubanatorial general election? Is cash somehow different?

Comment by northsider (the original) Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:47 am
Don’t they arrest people for doing stuff like this anymore?

Comment by Mouthy Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:52 am
“Walkin’ around money” isn’t new. But I suppose if the $ is provided by the other party, it’s, ah, unusual.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:54 am
I get that Dunkin’s strategy is to blame the Speaker for everything, but it is pretty funny when Dunkin blames the Speaker for what is happening in Dunkin’s own campaign office.

Is the Speaker really that powerful?

Comment by Gooner Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:55 am
==Don’t they arrest people for doing stuff like this anymore?==

If they do, I’d be shocked if they did it quickly.

Comment by AC Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 10:57 am
Oh, there will be an investigation, it will announce its findings in about a year after Dunkin gets re-elected. This makes me seriously ill. I know stuff like this happens I guess, but straight up cash for votes.

FYI, the gift cards were given to volunteers who were getting folks to the polls, they weren’t traded for votes. It isn’t hugely different, but you aren’t playing on people’s poverty by asking them to sell the one thing of value they have, their vote. Not to mention, I’m sure those people voting for Dunkin for 50-100 dollars are much worse off since the Guv has basically written off the poor and middle class.

Comment by Me too Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:00 am
Of course it’s Madigan’s fault when you get caught red-handed!

Comment by forwhatitsworth Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:00 am
== It may be difficult to legally prove Mr. Dunkin has or had knowledge of the payoffs although I suspect he was involved. ==

House & Senate actions don’t necessarily need to meet the legal standard:

ARTICLE XII
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS

… (selected parts)

(House Rule 96)

96. Report of the Select Committee on Discipline.

(a) The select committee shall vote on each charge by record vote. For each charge the select committee shall vote on the question, “Is the Member at fault on this charge?” If a majority of the members appointed vote in the affirmative, the member shall be found at fault on that charge. If less than a majority of the members appointed vote in the
affirmative, it shall be reported that there is
insufficient evidence to find the member at
fault on that charge.

(b) If the select committee finds the member at fault on any charge, the committee shall adopt a recommendation for disciplinary action. The committee may recommend a reprimand, a censure, expulsion from the House, or that no penalty be invoked. The recommendation on disciplinary action requires an affirmative vote of the majority of the
members appointed. If a majority of the members appointed cannot, by record vote, agree on a penalty, it shall report a recommendation that no penalty be invoked.

…

Comment by RNUG Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:01 am
Rich I think to be honest you are too young to have seen real vote buying in its hayday here in Chicago, especially with characters like Ald like Vito Marzullo who left politics in 1986, or Ald. Thomas Keane who went to jail in 1974. Slipping a $20 for a vote was not abnormal at all.

For the record I am in my late 60s and a life long Chicagoan whose mother worked for George Dunne in his offices on the near north side.

Old timer stories I grew up with indicated Ald Paddy Bauler paid out only four drinks per vote at his bar De Luxe Gardens. There was another story about Bauler’s campaign against reformer Rev. Alva Tompkins who claimed Paddy was a crook, a hard to believe claim. The Reverend lost by a margin of 8-1 when Bauler pulled out all the stops with free beer and an all-girl hillbilly band. The latest inheritor of the remnants of this historic near north Democrat machine was Jesse White who was the political sponsor of Ken Dunkin. So is this really a surprise?

Comment by Rod Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:02 am
===So is this really a surprise?===

It’s 2016, not 1916. So, yes, it’s a surprise.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:05 am
It would be funny if, in trying to maintain his seat and a vote for Rauner, he was disciplined and ejected from the house. I’d bet Madigan would love to do that. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if a plan is already in the works.

Comment by Me too Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:06 am
When do we start hearing aboutSpeaker Madigan and the Presidents he controls

Comment by Doh Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:07 am
How can this NOT be a surprise?

Geez, Louise, you can’t go anywhere without a camera, cell phone, any type of recording device that a child may own, and here we are watching the blatant?

Heck yeah, I’m surprised. I’m surprised at every aspect, from the alleged transactions, that they’d be kept secret, that no one thought of this being captured by media…

Pick any, I’m totally surprised.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:09 am
Some unsolicited advice to Kenny — the defense attorneys you’re going to need to hire ain’t cheap. Recommend you start saving the Rauner cash now, you’re going to need it.

Comment by wolf Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:09 am
“I get that Dunkin’s strategy is to blame the Speaker for everything, but it is pretty funny when Dunkin blames the Speaker for what is happening in Dunkin’s own campaign office.
Is the Speaker really that powerful?”

Speaker Madigan and the Dunkin campaign staffers he controls…

Comment by There is power in a union... Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:10 am
Vote buying, a stapled forehead, Trump, etc. The news is both sad and disgusting….

Comment by Mouthy Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:16 am
He learned from the best.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:19 am
Bye Felicia

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:19 am
Dunkin has an alibi, he has been in a sleeping bag outside of Madigan’s office.

Comment by Qui Tam Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:21 am
Check out campaign reports. Tens of thousands of of dollars come in that are never fully accounted for going out. They’re recorded as “election day expenses” or “field work” or the like. It would be surprising if it were NOT going on. All the money is going somewhere, and when you look at the videos, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that this isn’t their first rodeo.

Now, if whoever made these videos is willing to put their hand in the air and testify, we might get somewhere in a court of law. But everyone knows that ain’t gonna happen. What we’re left with is videos that came from who knows where made by who knows who that appeared magically on the Internet. Not exactly the kind of evidence that gets admitted in a trial.

So, move along, folks. There, really, is nothing to see here except another brick in the wall of corruption and dirty tricks that is politics in Illinois

Comment by It's No Surprise Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:46 am
I can’t believe this isn’t a bigger story. Are we really that jaded? I mean, it seems completely unbelievable that someone would be so bold as to offer strangers 50-100 dollars to vote a certain way, even requiring proof of their doing so while not expecting even one person to cry foul. Thank goodness there were some motivated poll watchers who were able to bring this to light, but this should be front page everywhere.

Comment by Me too Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:48 am
===But everyone knows that ain’t gonna happen===

The four individuals gave statements to the police.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:48 am
The videos don’t need to be authenticated, but they have been. Read the story, poll workers noticed something funny and went to investigate. Regardless, the videos show money changing hands in return for votes for Dunkin. The individuals in the videos can be identified as Dunkin campaign workers, and the office can be identified as well. Don’t get your hopes up that this will go away or is some kind of black flag operation by the great and powerful Oz. It is exactly what it looks like.

As for election day expenses, campaigns pay people for getting folks to the polls. They don’t pay them 50 bucks a head. They give them money for gas, wear and tear on their vehicles, lunch, and in some cases some of that money may make it to a voter in terms of buying them lunch or coffee or something. That is however not systemic and well explained to be a no no. This was organized. It wasn’t a rogue campaign worker. This was targeted and I have no doubt was known about at the highest levels of the Dunkin campaign.

Comment by Me too Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 11:53 am
==“Walkin’ around money” isn’t new.==

Nope, it’s not. But it’s also not generally used for buying actual votes. It’s for walkers, election day volunteers, and folks like that. And if the campaign manager is smart, some of it is squirrelled away for staff “bonuses” when the candidate inevitably stiffs them.

Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:04 pm
===“Walkin’ around money” isn’t new.===

Stating that, I dunno if you have a clue what “walking around” money is used for on Election Day.

Typically, it’s someone ” - Anonymous - “

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:08 pm
Why do they still pass out those little paper voting “receipts” at the polls? Do they serve any legitimate purpose?

Comment by TinyDancer(FKA Sue) Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:08 pm
–Why do they still pass out those little paper voting “receipts” at the polls? Do they serve any legitimate purpose?–

Voters expect it at this point. No more or less legitimate a purpose than the since retired “I voted!” stickers.

Comment by wolf Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:18 pm
The only thing that surprises me is how much the price has increased.

But really everyone acting surprised that this happens in Illinois, and in Chicago at that, is a bit funny.

Comment by SO IL M Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:47 pm
How fortunate for Dunkin the state and Cook County now have same day voter registration, expanded early voting, easier registration by mail and no verification policy on Election Day other than a signature. Both spending and turnout records may be shattered in this race ha.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:51 pm
== The only thing that surprises me is how much the price has increased. ==

Not all inflation is measured by the Consumer Price index.

Comment by RNUG Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:52 pm
Maybe this will give the Dunkin campaign a boost. That’s a good price for a small effort. On the other hand, there is no way for them to know who you really voted for. (A ballot can be changed after a picture has been taken.)

Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:57 pm
I wonder if he has campaign staff working the “graveyard voters”.

Comment by CharlieKratos Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 12:57 pm
What a weak response. He doesn’t even bother to deny it! Rich should trademark the phrase “Because… Madigan!” This is beyond brazen, even for Chicago.

Comment by NSideLady Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:12 pm
That’s very old school. Last I heard of it for real, was many years ago, and it was 5-10 bucks, not 50-100.

Looks like they were caught red-handed too. Might be a perp walk with this one, though probably not the principle.

Comment by walker Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 2:23 pm
Walking around money is rarely audited or accounted for. How often do campaigns give a precinct captain or even a ‘volunteer’ in Chicago an extra $20 or $50 for gas, coffee or donuts?

How would anyone know that with any accuracy? It’s an odd system to accept.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 3:57 pm
How wonderful it would be if those crisp $50s could be traced to a Rauner stash of cash.

Comment by Union Man Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 4:00 pm
Is it too dramatic to be deeply disturbed by the dismissal of this by some commenters?

This is third world tactics, not first world, and definitely should not be taken lightly by anyone, regardless of political orientation.

Somewhere, where House rules, state election rules, state statute, federal acts and rules intersect, there appears to be sufficient evidence to proceed with cleaning up this dirt.

Hopefully, for the sake of pushing back against this corrupt third world culture, we hear from an authority, soon.

Comment by cdog Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 4:21 pm
It will be interesting to find out who knew about the ‘pay for votes’ and when did they know.

Comment by Mama Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 4:38 pm
This can’t be Dunkin’s doing — it’s gotta be Rauner’s superstars running things directly. A Cook County Democrat would know that $50 a vote is way too high. /s

Comment by Whatever Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 4:43 pm
Wait, I’m confused…are the POTUS and Jesse White racists too? are they both on Madigan’s plantation?

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 5:31 pm
If it wasn’t for the terrible human toll being inflicted by Dunkin and Rauner, this would be great theatre- kind of like a local production of House of Cards…as it is…PLEASE LET IT END!

Comment by Morty Monday, Mar 7, 16 @ 5:49 pm
Distributing grant funds

Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Mar 8, 16 @ 7:37 am